Add Color Sensor

[Knochi]

Hi,

First I want to like to thank you for doing that work. The original is nightmare in terms of construction and the "licensing fee" is, from my point of view, not justified.

Why not adding the Color Sensor as well?

So what TD-1 is using is the TCS3472 Colour Sensor Module. Either use the module or put the sensor directly on the board.

I did a bit more research.. so maybe we can use the VEML3328SL. It's in a side firing receiving package and together with a strong side firing LED everything may be kept on a plane/pcb. The Sensor is capable of RGB, clear and even IR sensing (no idea if that is usefull).

I can do the hardware if you like, but first want to know, why this wasn't considered from the beginning and if you @mawoka-myblock can do the software part? (i have no idea how to program in rust).

[mawoka-myblock]

Thanks for bringing that up. I honestly considered it, but there are some points that ultimately led to the decision not to include a color sensor:

1. Cost. The Td-Free should be as cheap as possible
2. Value: As far as I know, the color sensor doesn't work properly on the Td-1 as well.
3. Usage/accuracy Would people really pay just to get the color they can accurately (enough) set with their own eyes?

The thing is that we don't really have the space to "view" the filament by shining a light onto it, we'd rather have to put light through the filament and that doesn't work particularly well for color perception. So we'd have to add an additional sensor instead of replacing the current one.

Forget half of the stuff above: I just now realized the "side firing" aspect. We'd have to make sure the LED's have enough space to really illuminate the center of the filament. The other thing that one might have to consider is the friction of the filament on the PCB. And to be honest with you: I've got a pile of 110 PCBs at home I'd like to sell before going into another revision and trashing my current PCBs.

And to emphasize that again, I think the upcharge and added value don't come in equal. But I really appreciate your offer here! Maybe, I'll come back to you when I am out of PCBs/low on PCB stock.

[Knochi]

Ok.

So first I will do something against that large pile of PCBs and order one 😆.

Then I might build a prototype, because my original intention wasn't using it for Hueforge but for filamentcolors.xyz and that's also a good source for filament colors, when you don't have a working colorimeter.

Cu

[mawoka-myblock]

Thank you for the support! I right now working on some software improvements!